Oversight committee OKs management and budget pick
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously backs Jack Lew, who has promised an exhaustive review of agency operations.
A key Senate oversight panel unanimously approved the nomination of Jack Lew to run the Office of Management and Budget during a brief business meeting on Tuesday morning.
Nine members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee were present and voted in favor of Lew, while four other senators approved the nomination by proxy.
The Senate Budget Committee must also OK Lew. A vote has not yet been set on the panel's calendar.
A widely known and well respected figure on Capitol Hill, Lew sailed through his dual confirmation hearings last week and is expected to win confirmation easily. A vote by the full Senate could come before the recess for the November midterm elections.
Lew, who led OMB during the Clinton administration from 1998 to 2001, told lawmakers one of his first moves, if confirmed, would be to conduct an exhaustive review of every federal agency to trim waste and inefficiencies. He noted good management is paramount, especially in tough economic times, and pledged to build consensus rather than deepen partisan divides.